Best cell phone for under $400

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By Allison Johnson , a reviewer with 10 years of experience writing about consumer tech. She has a special interest in mobile photography and telecom. Previously, she worked at DPReview. If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement. Budget phones to the rescue.

Best cell phone for under $400

Tech Friend is our advice column covering cybersecurity, privacy, and everyday technology. Email your question to techfriend expressvpn. If you have questions about your ExpressVPN subscription or need troubleshooting help, please contact Support. I am budget-conscious and need a new cell phone. Could you give me a Top 5 list in your opinion? I need a minimum of GB storage and snappy performance. Also, the fingerprint reader has to work well. I use this for work and will be taking pictures daily to send to clients. I use Android but am not opposed to iPhone. There are so many reviews out there it is hard to sift through.

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At a glance 2. Best overall 3. Best for Galaxy fans 4. Best value 5. Best with a stylus 6. Best battery life 7.

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Best cell phone for under $400

It also comes with a side-mounted fingerprint reader and Verizon 5G support. The Samsung Galaxy A03s has better performance and update support than other ultra-budget phones, and it works on all cellular networks. Unlike many budget phones, its 6. It will support Android 14 when it rolls out, and it will get security updates through June Most budget phones are lucky to get half that. The A03s is fast enough to browse the web, send messages, and play simple games. Wirecutter staff writer Roderick Scott has been reviewing consumer tech, including Android phones, for more than a decade.

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These budget phones can make calls, send texts, and run most apps and games for hundreds of dollars less than the iPhone 15 or Galaxy S The Pixel A-series is a great way to get the Pixel experience at a more affordable price. It has feature-rich software with lots of features, and it's a great overall performer with solid battery life. Each company takes a different approach toward cheaper phones. CPU: Octa-core 2x2. Submit Cancel. Processor MediaTek Dimensity Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. Be especially sure to check that the refurbished device includes a warranty for repairs, since without one you may have to pay Apple or another retailer a high price for a screen repair or other accidental damage. Storage: 64 GB. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Best for stylus.

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Best overall. Most Popular. That translates to excellent performance for day-to-day tasks and even heavy lifts like gaming. How we test phones. Reviews ethics statement. Best international phone. Cameras Cons Software bugs frequently impact usability T-Mobile bloatware Fuzzy video quality. US Edition. Search for a blog article. Write new comment:. Amazon Echo Dot 5. Reasons to avoid - Downgraded cameras compared to Redmi Note Greg Govin - The 7A is tougher than your average midranger, too, with an aluminum frame and an IP67 rating for resistance against dust and dunks in water.